"Comment writing event works to express opinions on new Title IX regulations"

by Nikki Kim

Rackham student Kamaria Porter, a research assistant, discusses the new regulations on Title XI and campus sexual violence proposed by the Department of Education at Hutchins Hall Monday evening. Photo credit: Keemya Esmael

In response to concerns with new Title IX regulations, about 50 students and professors from the University of Michigan's Institute for Research on Women and Gender, Law School and Department of Sociology hosted a Title IX comment writing event Monday night in Hutchins Hall Monday night.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 to the 1964 Civil Rights Act was created to abolish discrimination based on sex in federally funded education programs. This policy is applied to public universities in order to prevent gender-based discrimination.

In 2017, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos withdrew much of the guidelines created to uphold the requirements of Title IX set by President Barack Obama's administration. This fall, new regulations were proposed by the Department of Education. The comment writing event was held in order to highlight the regulatory changes as well as encourage students to participate in the notice and comment process.